“That was quite the disaster.”

While eating lunch, Abel listened to Ryo recount the trouble that had befallen him and gave his thoughts.

“Yeah, I was really surprised. The female captain was incredibly tall, but her sword-drawing speed was insanely fast. You’re fast too, Abel, but... hmm, it might be a close match.”

“You’re talking about the princess’s guard captain, right? Mifa told me about her before. Originally, she was part of the Queen’s royal guard. If I recall correctly, she’s the vice-captain of that guard unit.”

“I see. So, she was personally chosen by Her Majesty.”

Ryo nodded in understanding, then suddenly looked at Abel with a serious expression.

“Abel, be careful.”

“Of what?”

“If you sneak onto the first ship as usual and try to steal valuables, that captain might cut you down.”

“First of all, ‘as usual’ is a strange way to put it. And I don’t steal valuables.”

“So, in other words, you steal things that aren’t valuable? Generally, things like jewels are considered precious.”

“Alright, I phrased that wrong. I don’t sneak aboard, and I don’t steal anything.”

“Later, Ryo’s prediction would come true...”

“Don’t say ominous things like that!”

Choosing words carefully is important to avoid misunderstandings.

That night.

The princess’s entourage stayed overnight in Yiliang City.

Ever since their arrival, Princess Shio Fen had been following a tightly packed schedule. Now, in her room, she was receiving an unusual report.

“...So, in short, Bizis nearly killed an unrelated person. But that person effortlessly blocked Bizis’s full-powered strike with a sword. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s exactly right. It was my blunder...”

“Well, let’s send that person a gift as an apology from the princess. They forgave you on the spot, correct?”

“Yes. They simply said I was performing my duty.” 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Bizis, still kneeling, kept her head bowed.

The mistake was potentially catastrophic, making it difficult to even report.

But withholding the report would be far worse.

“Mifa, what do you think?”

Princess Shio Fen turned to the only maid in the room.

Present in the room were the princess, Bizis, and Mifa.

“The fact that someone blocked Bizis-sama’s full-force strike so easily... and that this person is a magician—this is surprising. Also, having such a powerful individual within the fleet is something we should be cautious about.”

At Mifa’s words, Bizis lifted his head in realization.

“Indeed. I know how skilled Bizis is with the sword. And yet, this person blocked it with ease? Mifa, could you do that?”

“No, it would be difficult for me.”

“That’s not true. Your swordsmanship is quite formidable.”

Bizis insisted.

“Thank you, Bizis-sama. However, even if I could block it... I certainly wouldn’t be able to do it effortlessly. But this magician blocked it with ease, correct?”

“Yes. As if humming a tune.”

Bizis’s words left both Mifa and Princess Shio Fen in silence.

After a brief pause, the princess spoke.

“We don’t know this magician’s name... do ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) we?”

“No. They refused to answer.”

“And who vouched for their identity?”

“Captain La Wu of the tenth ship.”

“I see. I can’t help but be curious. Bizis, could you ask Captain La Wu about this person?”

“Understood.”

Bizis nodded in response to the princess’s request.

There is no record of Ryo sneezing repeatedly at that moment.

Nor is there any record of him feeling a sudden chill around his neck.

“I have a question for you, Abel, as someone with extensive experience laying ambushes.”

“What do you mean, ‘extensive experience laying ambushes’?”

“When you were active, didn’t you lead raids on bandits?”

“That’s true, but... ‘raids’ could be misleading. It’s better to say ‘bandit suppression’.”

“Is that so? Well then, based on your experience in bandit suppression, if someone were to attack this group and attempt to assassinate the princess. When would be the best time—on land or while at sea?”

Ryo posed the question like a multiple-choice test, but Abel frowned.

Even after rewording it as ‘bandit suppression,’ Abel still seemed dissatisfied.

“I have a fundamental issue with the question itself.”

So it wasn’t about wording—it was a deeper objection.

“Would anyone actually attempt an ambush? This is an imperial marriage procession under the direct protection of the Ministry of Rites of Darwei.”

“But, you know, for those who aim for the throne...”

“Even then, wouldn’t it be seen as a direct challenge to the emperor’s authority?”

“I see... Even those vying for the throne wouldn’t want to be directly targeted by the current emperor. Besides, the one being assassinated isn’t a rival claimant, nor even another prince, but just the bride-to-be. That’s an unnecessary risk...”

Ryo mulled over Abel’s words.

An attack within the Bosuntar territory had been a different matter entirely.

Which is likely why the large-scale attack took place while they were still there.

Once the marriage procession became an official imperial affair, any ambush would carry far greater consequences.

“In that case, Princess Shio Fen and Mifa will likely make it to the capital safely.”

“Yes, I certainly hope so.”

Abel nodded, picturing his disciple’s face in his mind.

As a swordsman, he had taught her all he could under the current circumstances.

But in reality, there are many situations where individual skill alone isn’t enough.

What happens when she faces such a moment...?

“Abel, you’re overprotective.”

“What? Where did that come from?”

“You’re worried about Mifa, aren’t you?”

“It’s natural for a teacher to worry about their student.”

“I take a hands-off approach with my apprentices at the trading company.”

Ryo was referring to his five water-attribute magic apprentices.

Under his care at the Gecko Trading Company.

“But you rushed to help them when they were about to be caught in the war in the Inbury Duchy.”

“Th-that was different! War is dangerous!”

“And so is getting caught in an ambush.”

As Ryo flusteredly tried to justify himself, Abel calmly shook his head.

Many people were involved in the marriage procession of Princess Shio Fen.

Among them, excluding the princess herself, the one with the highest official rank, the greatest responsibility, and the most stomach-churning stress was likely Deputy Minister Snus of the Darwei Ministry of Rites, responsible for marriage affairs.

In his room, prepared one floor below where Princess Shio Fen was staying, Deputy Minister Snus was receiving a report from Secretary Bal.

“Eighty reinforcements from the Ministry of Rites will arrive at the next port of call, Boago.”

“We set off tomorrow... so we will arrive in Boago in four days, correct? Everything is on schedule?”

Deputy Minister Snus let out a small sigh.

Even though things were proceeding as planned, to Secretary Bal, Snus’s sigh seemed to carry a hint of concern.

“Deputy Minister, is something the matter?”

“No, I appreciate the reinforcements arriving, but...”

Snus sighed once again.

“The captains have made a request. They want to keep some adventurers on board.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“To be precise, they asked to keep two adventurers. A water-attribute magician and their swordsman companion.”

“Even though the captains of the Imperial vessels are under the direct command of the Ministry of Rites for this marriage procession? That kind of demand is unreasonable.”

“I understand. The captains understand that as well. That’s why they phrased it as a request... but the way they made that request was rather intense.”

Snus recalled the scene from that evening.

Before the ten captains, he had announced that reinforcements from the Ministry of Rites would arrive at Boago, replacing the adventurers.

He hadn’t expected cheers of joy, but he had at least hoped for some relief.

After all, rather than relying on unknown adventurers, having an official escort team from the Ministry of Rites, with verified backgrounds, should have been a reassuring change.

The captains, for the most part, had no objections to the exchange.

It was, after all, the original plan.

However, they had one request.

“Please allow the water-attribute magician from the Tenth Ship to remain.”

Apparently, this particular magician was capable of filling every single freshwater barrel on all the ships—singlehandedly.

Not only that, but they could even fill the bathtub in the cargo hold of the First Ship...

What previously took dozens of crew members several hours to accomplish, this one magician could do alone.

That freed up manpower for other loading tasks, saving both time and effort.

Losing such a valuable individual would be a severe blow to the fleet.

“Still, it would be best if all adventurers disembarked here...”

“Deputy Minister!”

Snus’s words were cut off by Captain Myun of the First Ship.

“The usefulness of that water-attribute magician is extraordinary. We are not asking to keep all the adventurers. We are simply requesting that this magician and their swordsman companion remain.”

As Captain Myun spoke, the other nine captains all nodded in agreement.

With overwhelming intensity.

Snus had been a soldier since his youth.

He had fought on many battlefields and had faced death on numerous occasions.

But the sheer pressure from these ten captains was... overwhelming.

Captain Myun of the First Ship was originally an admiral in the Darwei Navy.

Coming from a lineage of sailors that spanned generations, he held deep trust from the Emperor.

The other captains, too, were all veterans who had survived battles against pirates and insurgents.

Even the youngest, Captain La Wu of the Tenth Ship, was no exception.

Faced with such intimidating pressure,

“I-I will consider it...”

Snus had no choice but to relent.

That was the extent of Snus’s experience that evening.

“Indeed, the captains are all seasoned warriors... that must have been intense.”

Imagining the scene, Secretary Bal shuddered.

If it had been him, he would have wanted to avoid such an experience altogether.

“Right? Captain Myun of the First Ship was once an admiral. He led entire fleets into battle against pirates and rebels, earning great favor from His Majesty. He is a reliable man... but precisely because of that, I don’t want to make him an enemy.”

“However... the directive from the Ministry of Rites stated that ‘all’ adventurers must disembark, correct?”

“Yes. Minimizing uncertainties is a fundamental principle of escort operations. Now then... what should we do?”

Later that night. On the deck of the Tenth Ship.

“Captain La Wu?”

“Apologies for the late hour, Captain La Wu. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Captain La Wu invited the visiting Bizis into the captain’s quarters at the stern of the ship.

“I went to the lodgings where the Tenth Ship’s crew is staying in town, but I was told you were still aboard.”

Bizis expressed gratitude for the green tea that was served and explained the reason for the visit.

Hearing this, La Wu chuckled.

“It’s always like this. I always stay on the ship during official missions. I find I don’t sleep as well on land.”

“A true sailor through and through.”

Bizis said with a faint smile.

For a while, only the sound of tea being sipped echoed through the captain’s quarters.

“In truth, I am here today under the orders of Her Highness.”

“Hmm?”

Bizis broached the topic, while La Wu continued sipping tea without a change in expression.

“Her Highness wishes to know more about the water-attribute magician... the one I mistakenly struck. I came to see if you could provide any information.”

“I see.”

Bizis spoke frankly, and La Wu, still expressionless, gave a slight nod.

After taking another sip of tea, La Wu responded.

“Captain Bizis, I understand your request. However, I cannot answer that question.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“I’m merely a ship captain. And more importantly, that particular magician explicitly asked me not to share information about them publicly. Consider it a kind of confidentiality agreement.”

“But...”

“Would you want someone else freely revealing your personal information without your consent?”

La Wu’s expression remained unchanged as he spoke.

Bizis had to admit, he was right.

Absolutely right.

It was completely reasonable.

And yet...

“Even so... If I still wish to know, what should I do?”

“You would have no choice but to ask them directly.”

La-Wu’s response was straightforward.

Indeed, there was no other way.

“I understand, Captain La Wu. I would like to speak with them directly. Could you inform them of my request and arrange a meeting?”

“Understood. However, it is quite late tonight... and we depart early tomorrow. That said, our next port of call, Boago, might be a good option. We will arrive there in four days and stay for two nights. The first night should work. Assuming, of course, that the magician agrees.”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

Bizis bowed in agreement with La Wu’s proposal.

While they wouldn’t get the information immediately, this approach ensured they would get it.

Without causing any trouble for anyone.

Bizis had no intention of antagonizing the magician.

If anything, she was intrigued and wanted to learn more.

A magician possessing such exceptional swordsmanship... how had they acquired such skill?

However, the meeting in Boago never came to pass...